Dental matrix band



July 1941- I v A. F. HOFFMANN ETAL 2,248,532

DENTAL MATRIX BAND Filed April 15, 1940 19 Inventor A itorney Patented July 8, 1941 DENTAL MATRIX BAND Anthony F. Hoffmann and Herman J. Dettmann, Dubuque, Iowa Application April 15, 1940, Serial No. 329,792

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to dental bands adapted for use in forming a supporting wall for filling material placed in a tooth for the purpose of holding the filling in a predetermined position until the same is set and becomes hardened.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a band of this character formed of either a colored or colorless soluble material which becomes dissolved after a predetermined interval by the saliva, thus eliminating the necessity of removing the band.

In the usual practice of filling teeth an indestructible band is employed which necessitates a removal thereof after the filling has hardened, and such removal of the band frequently distorts the filling or the filling is otherwise harmed by the needless stress exerted on it and not only proves painful to the patient, but often damages the filling.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to eliminate the objectionable features above mentioned and to provide a soluble band of this character which automatically dissolves after the filling has set.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction as more fully hereinafter set forth, reference being hard to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the band secured in position on a tooth by a conventional form of clamping meansa Figure 2 is a top plan view, and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the band.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral 5 designates the dental matrix ban-d which is constructed of gelatin or other suitable soluble material and is in the form of an elongated strip of material having an intermediate portion designated at 6 adapted for positioning between the teeth shown at 1, the band being flexible and adapted for bending into substantially U-form as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, by means of a conventional form of clamping device designated at 8. The clamping device includes a pair of pivoted jaws 9 having lugs I 0 on the opposed faces thereof adapted for insertion in the openings H formed adjacent the end portion of the band.

One longitudinal edge of the band, adjacent each end, is beveled, as shown at l2, to gradually reduce the width of the band in a direction toward each end thereof to prevent interference by instruments used in applying the filling designated at l3 to the tooth.

Accordingly, it will be apparent that the band 5 when secured in position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, forms a wall about three sides of the tooth, and the filling I3 may thus be placed on the desired portion of the tooth within the wall thus formed and the band will serve to hold the filling in position until the filling has become set. The band 5, after having been clamped about the tooth, will maintain its form to retain the filling in position until the same has become set, even should the band applying device be removed.

The band is constructed of soluble material and accordingly, the saliva from the mouth of the patient will serve to dissolve the band after a predetermined interval and subsequent to the hardening of the filling, the band being intended for use with the usual type of plastic fillers and which require a time for becoming set which is less than that necessary to dissolve the band. Accordingly, the difficulty and annoyance usually involved in removing bands of this character is eliminated.

It is believed the details of construction and advantages of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is 1, A dental matrix band adapted for engaging and partly enclosing a tooth to provide a retainer for a plastic filler applied to the tooth, said band being formed of material soluble in saliva and adapted to become dissolved subsequent to the setting of the filling.

2. A dental matrix band comprising an elongated fiexible strip of material soluble in saliva and adapted for shaping to a tooth to form a wall for retaining a plastic filling on the tooth prior to setting of the filling, said band being capable of retaining its form without structural disintegration for a predetermined period beyond the time required for the setting of the filler.

3. A dental matrix band constructed of flexible material soluble in saliva and capable of being bent and retained in a predetermined shape for placing against the wall of a tooth to provide a dam for a plastic filler when applied to the tooth, said band further being immune to disintegrating influence of the saliva for a period of time longer than that required for the setting of the filler.

ANTHONY F. HO'FFMANN.

HERMAN J. DE'I'IMANN. 

